Levy must turn the tide of relationship with Manchester United to keep Pochettino

Daniel Levy has negotiated with Manchester United before, with the sole objective of getting the highest price possible for both Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov. But now he must battle to keep the almost irreplaceable Mauricio Pochettino.

Manchester United are already putting together a succession plan to replace Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino is the only man on their list, according to the Sun.

The report claims that United are willing to battle with Real Madrid to lure the Argentine to Old Trafford and will pay £40m to free him from his five-year Spurs contract, with an annual salary of £8m.

Pochettino only signed that deal in the summer, but that has not dampened Ed Woodward’s belief that he can outmaneuvre Daniel Levy and get his man.

Of course, Levy has negotiated with United in the past, getting bumper fees for both Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick back in an era where Spurs were operating on a very different plane.

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But the landscape has changed now and although United are still on another level financially to Tottenham – Levy may well be tempted by the sums on offer – it is the north London side who are in the ascendancy.

They hold all the cards if United are desperate for Pochettino but Levy must alter the dynamic of his previous relationship with the Red Devils if he is to keep his manager at the club.